Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-21
There was the spectacle of the old. fash.

|
ioned wagons, covered over with canvas,
drawn by oxen, and filled with the house,
mold effects, the working tools, the small
possessions of the pioneer. Behind the
wagon was the never failing box hung on
ana over it the spinning wheel and vener-
able split bottomed chairs. Behind other
covered wagons the family COW was led.
Inc rear of another held crate in which
were chickens and ducks, the latter ever
and anon catching the inspiration of the
Jubilee and quacking salute to oil King
Corn. One luckless way-farer had broken
DOWN wagon wheel, and had slung it by
the wagons side and supported the axle
on pole; and he was bravely headed
westward.
j.. The following are o few of the inscrip.
tons on the canvass of the wagons:
.sSioux City or Bust"
we come from old Missouri, and all the
City, "0''D0 1oA e'ouA
II have the whisky. Left the flour and
cook stove at Sergeant Bluffs"
| Westward, no! Sioux City or bust"
| Farewell to Vermont and New York state.
too. We may emierate to hell some day. but
never back to you"
The next picture was specially realistic
10 Sioux City eyes-a freight train, bound
Tor tie Black Hills camps. 1t was no ill.,
fusion, either, Tor the immense vans had
seen service there. Three great vans,
lashed together in true frontier style, and
piled full Of freight, were drawn by six
mule teams. The driver guided them with
single line, and the bells upon their har-
ness jngling cheerily as they moved slowly
along, not SO much n "Reminiscences as a
true survival of the prairie life. The cam
vas bore the inscription of evans & Hor-
nick, 1875, Black Hills Transport 1tlon
Through Freight Line"
Then there was float, "Sioux City in
1864 rude log cabin, in front of which
sat white man and an Indian woman.
The man was in pioneer costume, with
knife in belt and rifle leaning against the
door. Upon the cabins side was nailed q
coon-skin to dry.
Another float supported representation
of early days, a cabin, and behind It a
huge painting.
| Another feature was q float representing
the journal in 1857. 1t was q framed
building, containing the not over elaborate
fittings OF the newspaper of that ancient
| time. The editor was in his chair Weld
ing the thing that is mightier than the
| sword; printers were at work, and from an
| old-fashloned Washington hand press the
devil and his angels were turning off the
| edition.
The sports Of the afternoon and eve
ming were all and more than had been
promised. The racing by the fire depart-
ment teams was fine, and showed TO ex-
cellent advantage the ample fire protection
of the city. The race of horse against
q bicycle was won ty the horse by about
three feet. j. F. Peavey drove the horse
and Dana Long, of LeMars, rode the BIZ
cycle.
The squaw race was one of the most
amusing features Of the week. The
squaws had been in training several days,
AMI were decidedly athletic. When they
pranced down the track to get the wire
they showed a ninbleness and nurtured
mu Gle not seen very often among their
pale sisters. Their garb was decidedly
primitive, being somewhat better than
nothing, but far from elaborate. In this
race there were twenty starters. The dis
lance run was two blocks. The winners
of prizes were Miss Jane Priest, first;
Mss Gold Old Mans Daughter, second,
and Miss Henry Rice Hill, third. The
Indian maidens ran very we'll, and there
was quite a rivalry to get first place. To-
ward the latter part OF the race there was
some lively stepping, and bushels of fun
for the spectators.
The half mile trotting race was won by
Black Tom, with Bay Billy second and
Gypsy third. Time, 1:25. The race was
greatly enjoyed.
The Flambeau club gave an excellent
drill in the evening, which was hugely
enjoyed by the thousands OF spectators.
The feature of Wednesdays public en-
tertainment was the industrial parade by
representatives Of Sioux City Institutions,
a magnificent showing Of mechanical,
trade, labor, business and industrial inter
ests. The procession was a large and i'm
posing one. The pacing race IN the af-
ternoon was won by Fritz Seller. In the
Indian foot race there were ten entries, as
follows; John Rice Hill, David Rice Hill,
George Rice Hill, James Mallory, George
Gray Wolf, Howard Mckee, Ed. Walker,
David Blackhawk, Ed. Priest and Louis
Priest. This event was of great impor-
lance to the spectators, something the
like Of which thousands present had never
seen. The runners present had every ap-
pearance of being athletic and capable of
doing good job of running. Their
wardrobes were generally very scant. Sew
eral of them shed everything but their
shirts, and very few had either shoes or
stockings on. The race was won by Louis
Priest, David BlackhawjS, second, James
Mallory, tllru, ana UeofSe luce Hill
fourth. The bicycle race was won by G..
w. Moulton, Of Omaha, his competitor
being A. c. Jolitfe, of the same city.
The st. Paul shop boys made a veay fine
parade in the evening. In this parade
there were $50 men, each of whom car
riei q red-light lantern. In front was a
locomotive headlight mounted on truck,
while farther back Was bell mounted the
same way.
The exhibition drill in the palace by
company II, Iowa National Guards, was a
credltalle one. During the evening the
drummer Boy of the Army of the Poto-
mac" enteria aimed the large assemblage
with some wonderfully executed selections
upon that instrument.
Thursday was the greatest day of its
kind that the Northwest ever saw, and
thousands and tens OF thousands of peo-
pie lined the streets. The feature of the
day was the civic, military and society pa
rade. To say that it was grand, imposing,
perfect, is to say the simple truth and to
say what will be agreed to. 10 say that it
was the grandest demonstration ever held
in the Northwest, is to say what thousands
said in their enthusiasm. The first divI-
sion was made up Of the National Guards
OF Iowa and Dakota. There We're in all
| 4,roJ,,a ooo,,opjac Sevan nj Dakota and